Niagara Km 29.1 to Km 45.1 - 9 December, 2014

Hikers: Helgy, Anne and Steve

Leader:  Karen and Richard

Section and Distance:  Niagara Km 29.1 to Km 45.1

Weather: Cloudy and mild with a little sun,  no wind

Actual Distance hiked:  16.40 Km

Starting the Hike

After positioning the cars we started the hike at DeCew House.   We entered the bush and then followed the south shore of Lake Moodie for 1.2 km to the Hydro facility and then followed the trail to the Escarpment edge above Twelve Mile Creek.  Here we saw a good view of DeCew Falls by the waterworks building. We continued along the old roadway to Morningstar Mill.  We continued along DeCew Road before entering the woods.

After crossing several streams we descended steeply to a swampy area, followed by more fields.  These lands form part of the 700-hectare Short Hills Provincial Park.  The trail turned left through fields and forests to Wiley Rd.  We followed the old farm road and followed the north bank of Terrace Creek to Terrace Creek Falls.  It was here where we had elevensies.

 After crossing a bridge over a stream we reached an old roadbed (Gillign Rd.) and followed it up the hill.  We continued hiking through old farm pastures and fields and then climbed a steep ravine by the Swayze Falls and observation deck overlooking the falls.  The falls is known as "dry falls" because it is often dry; however, today there was a trickle of water with some ice buildup.

We continued through the wooded area of Short Hills Provincial Park before we exited onto Effingham Road which we followed for a short distance and then entered a right of way near an old water-filled quarry.  We skirted a field and followed an old road allowance for a short distance.  It was here that we had our lunch.

After lunch we ascended steeply to the top of the Escarpment and continued through the woods to Rockway Road.  We followed Rockway Road briefly before reentering the bush.  After crossing a small creek, we came to the Rockway Side Trail, which we took to the Rockway Community Centre to our parked car.  Along the way we stopped to see the Rockway Falls.

We picked up our second car, stopped at Tim Hortons and drove home.

Niagara Km 70.6 to Km 55.0 - 4 December, 2014

Hikers: Helgy and Steve

Guest Hikers:  Cees, John G., Mike, Joanne, Annie, Shirley, Bob

Leader:  Karen

Section and Distance:  Niagara Km 70.6 to Km 55.0

Weather: Coldish, Sun and Cloud, no wind - Perfect hiking weather

Actual Distance hiked:  16.68 Km

Today seven pathfinder hikers joined us on our hike.  After parking a car at Balls Falls we drove to the Mountainview Conservation Area to start the hike.

We started on Mountainview Road to Locust Lane to a road allowance.  We crossed a creek onto the EastDell Estate Winery property and then climbed a steep hill on a road allowance to the escarpment.  We soon passed the Kinsmen Community Park.

We followed the slope to a gully and then followed a narrow entrance back up.  We saw several slabs of rocks left by glaciers atop the escarpment.  Walking through the bush we came to a well worn path to Quarry Road.  We crossed the road and followed farmer's fields for a while.  We passed through a mature stand of beach and maple trees with beautiful views of the vineyards and Cave Springs from the top.

We crossed Cherry St. along the top of the Escarpment.  We descended steeply over a ridge and large dolostone boulders from the escarpment crest.  We climbed a diagonal ascent of the escarpment, crossing several streambeds.  It was here that we had our lunch.

We continued along through meadows and woodlands to Fifth Avenue and Victoria Street.

We followed the escarpment to Balls Falls.

While the drivers picked up the cars, the hikers explored the Balls Falls Conservation area.


 

Niagara Km 15.2 to Km 29.8 - 2 December, 2014

Hikers: Helgy and Steve

Leaders:  Karen and Richard

Section and Distance:  Niagara Km 15.2 to Km 29.8 

Weather: Coldish, Sun and Cloud with some wind

Actual Distance hiked:  15.38 Km

After positioning the cars we started the hike at the Woodend parking lot.  We crossed the road and continued west through the woods along the edge of a golf course.  We then followed an abandoned roadbed to the Third Welland Canal (1887 to 1931).  After a short climb we continued northeast for about 1 km along the banks of the Third Canal.  At Glendale Ave. we turned left and crossed the Glendale Bridge over the Fourth Welland Canal.

We then entered the Greater Niagara Circle Route (GNCR) which is a multi-use trail and followed the GNCR under the CN Rail tracks.  We turned right into a light bush and crossed a spur line before entering a denser bush behind a new subdivision.  We took a sharp turn up another spur-line embarkment and crossed the tracks into another bush.  We paralleled the tracks for 300 metres to a sharp incline to Merritt Street.

We crossed Ball Avenue over a small concrete bridge and continued to an old chain-link fence which we followed over a steel bridge crossing the old canal.  Here we met the Merritt trail which we followed for 500 metres to Glendale Avenue.  We turned left under Highway 406 to Tremont Dr, were we stopped at Tim Hortons for our elevensies.

After about a 1/2 hour break we continued to the top of the hill before entering into a light bush and then into  mature woodlot.  We continued along Glenridge Avenue to the footpath on the Brock University Campus.


We followed the north side of the Brock University campus and then headed along the edge of escarpment.  We continued along the escarpment edge to the hydro property above the outskirts of St. Catharines.  We followed the fence along a hydro canal and then turned left over rough ground onto a gravel road.

After 600 metres we turned right into the forest.   We crossed two bridges winding through scrub land to the eastern side of Lake Moodie and hiked along the water's edge to the east side of the DeCew Rd. Bridge.  We crossed the bridge to DeCew House Park where we had parked the first.  car.  After easting lunch at the picnic table and touring DeCew House, we picked up the other car from Woodend and drove home.

Historical Note for DeCew House

"Legend says that Laura Secord, the wife of a Canadian militia officer, was responsible for a British/Canadian victory in the War of 1812.  Queenston had been occupied by the Americans, and U.S. officers were being billeted in the Secord home.  Laura apparently overhead plans for an American attack and decided to take action.  She is reputed to have traveled on foot overnight from Queenston to the British headquarters at DeCew House (a distance of over 30 km), in order to warn the British.  Because of her warning, the British were well prepared and scored a major victory at Beaver Dams."